About a month ago I subscribed to “Our Daily Verse” – which is simply that, a daily verse I receive in my inbox every morning around 6:30. Each verse comes with a short comment from the host as well as a quote, song, and picture of the day. I use the verse as a morning prayer prompter, and then I watch for ways that God chooses to use it in or through me during the day. In full disclosure, depending on the busyness of the day, I sometimes forget the verse by mid-morning or afternoon, but at the close of the day I try to circle back to it and reflect on how it may have applied to my day or been used to encourage someone else.
– To bridge the gap between studies and keep us journeying through the Word – I will be sharing one of these daily verses and a link to their content, past or present, for the next two weeks. I believe you will find them a blessing and look forward – with hope – to hearing your comments, thoughts, or questions.
Verse of the Day: Philippians 4:13
I started this morning reflecting on this empowering truth from Philippians 4:13 …
The thoughts and prayers it prompted …
Father, you are good! You have given me Jesus and You have given me Your Spirit and through them I can not only draw near to You but I can do all “this” — All that You have called me to and/or allow in my life. You – Father, Spirit, Son – You are my STRENGTH, my SONG, my HOPE and my JOY! Oh, how I worship You.
You make me brave when I am afraid – You whisper peace and You give grace for each moment and fresh mercies every morning! When I am weak You are strong – When I don’t know the way You show me – When I hurt You comfort me – When my body fails I look to You for healing power – When I am tempted You show a way of escape – And when the storms come You walk with me through the waters and hold me up so I that I am not overcome by them!
I rejoice in these words by Oswald Chambers –
“God does not give us overcoming life: He gives us life as we overcome.”
Through Christ You empower me to live – to endure – and to walk in confident HOPE that all of Your promises are “Yes and Amen in Him” who has overcome the grave; and through whom I can do all things!
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12
Such a tiny verse and such a great message. I found it helpful as I journaled to clarify a few things in order to unpack the meaning.
Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire or longing for a certain thing to happen.
examples include things like pregnancy, a much needed job, a loved one’s salvation, or the healing of a disease…
Deferred means to put off or postpone until a later time.
this is not always a controlled or chosen action (see examples above)
Heart, in this sentence, is not referring to our physical organ but rather to the spiritual part of us where the emotions and desires dwell.
Desire is another word for hope
Fulfilled is something accomplished or completed.
Tree of Life in the Scriptures signifies “renewal of life” or to be refreshed, a breath of fresh air, renewed strength or joy, encouragement …
These observations may not seem necessary since they are all familiar words or phrases; however I find them helpful in fully appreciating the warning and wisdom of this proverb. The warning being we can’t always control when or if we will receive what we desire – but we can control how we respond in the waiting. Do we allow our crushed hopes and disappointment to drive us to bitterness and anger or do we let it lead us closer to the Savior? Do we succumb to “heart sickness” – allowing ourselves to fall into despair, depression, anxiety, and even actual physical sickness? Or, do we endure the wait with our faith planted firmly in God? I believe the answer lies in whether we want our desire more than we want God’s will and His perfect timing.
When our hope is deferred, we can cling to the hope we have in Christ, the one hope that will never be deferred. –
An LGG Team Member
Father, when hope is deferred help us to trust in You, Your will and Your perfect timing – and to want these things more than the desire we seek. Help us to not give up! – Amen and amen
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12
Such a tiny verse and such a great message. I found it helpful as I journaled to clarify a few things in order to unpack the meaning.
Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire or longing for a certain thing to happen.
examples include things like pregnancy, a much needed job, a loved one’s salvation, or the healing of a disease…
Deferred means to put off or postpone until a later time.
this is not always a controlled or chosen action (see examples above)
Heart, in this sentence, is not referring to our physical organ but rather to the spiritual part of us where the emotions and desires dwell.
Desire is another word for hope
Fulfilled is something accomplished or completed.
Tree of Life in the Scriptures signifies “renewal of life” or to be refreshed, a breath of fresh air, renewed strength or joy, encouragement …
These observations may not seem necessary since they are all familiar words or phrases; however I find them helpful in fully appreciating the warning and wisdom of this proverb. The warning being we can’t always control when or if we will receive what we desire – but we can control how we respond in the waiting. Do we allow our crushed hopes and disappointment to drive us to bitterness and anger or do we let it lead us closer to the Savior? Do we succumb to “heart sickness” – allowing ourselves to fall into despair, depression, anxiety, and even actual physical sickness? Or, do we endure the wait with our faith planted firmly in God? I believe the answer lies in whether we want our desire more than we want God’s will and His perfect timing.
When our hope is deferred, we can cling to the hope we have in Christ, the one hope that will never be deferred. –
An LGG Team Member
Father, when hope is deferred help us to trust in You, Your will and Your perfect timing – and to want these things more than the desire we seek. Help us to not give up! – Amen and amen
As I was reading this chapter in the book, an old praise song came dancing through my mind and spilled out into a little praise session. I’ll share the link below but for now here’s the words that are running through my mind as I begin writing today’s devotional –
“God is good, we sing and shout it! God is good, we celebrate!
God is good, no more we doubt it! God is good, we know it’s true.
And when I think of His love for me, my heart fills with praise,
and I feel like dancing. For in His heart there is room for me,
I have often said that reading God’s Word is like going on a treasure hunt and finding nuggets of gold, so I was excited when Jen opened her third chapter on God’s goodness with an illustration of a diamond park that had a history of people finding valuable diamonds. She goes on to make the point that the Bible offers us “many gems to be unearthed as we read”. Then she draws our attention to the “gem” of God’s goodness and how “the Bible eagerly places it in plain sight – no digging required”. She describes it as the “brilliant diamond”.
His goodness is not just a theory or descriptive term but it is in every way a reality. One meant to be tasted and seen, and savored – for all that it is. The world’s evilness, the difficult and tragic things we deal with or watch around us will not and cannot change the fact that God is good. ” Likewise all of the good mountain top experiences don’t make Him more good than He was. He is eternally, purposefully, and faithfully good.
Me-from the Inside out
The Bible is filled with evidence of God’s goodness. From the earliest days of creation God declares that what He had done was good. “God sees that the light is good, not as an act of recognition, but as a reflection of His own goodness, originating in Him and issuing from him. God is the source of all good and is Himself wholly good.” So from the earliest diamond fields of Genesis to the last treasure rich fields of Revelations and everything in between – the goodness of our God is on display and ready to be enjoyed – and we’ve been invited to “taste and see that the He is good”, (Ps 34:8). He is good in character and in deed, and He spreads the wealth of His goodness to all who love Him and are called according to His purpose by working all things together for good, that’s right – from the beginning of time He purposefully set about not just being good but doing good – to and for the ones He loves, (Romans 8:28).
Of course, if we want to know what goodness looks like, we only have to look at the perfect example of God’s goodness, His gift of love through Jesus Christ. who, *”radiated perfect goodness in perfect obedience to the Father for the sake of the lost.” Jesus, Himself, offers us the best definition of what goodness is by the way He lived, obedient to the Father and selflessly pouring Himself out in mercy, love, and grace for others. “Just as Christ radiates the goodness of God, so now should we. And according to Him, that goodness should be evident in our lives.” We have been told, when this happens others will see our good works and give glory to God who is in heaven, (Matt. 5:14-15). God should always be the goal of our goodness, by that I mean our goal should be to let our goodness reflect His goodness, let our goodness be purposeful and never selfishly motivated. It won’t be easy – our goodness will bless some but it will surely rub others the wrong way – which is why Scripture warns us not to grow weary in doing good, but if it’s bringing God glory and ultimately yielding fruit, fruit that will bear witness that we are the children of God, the brothers and sisters of Christ – then is it not worth pressing toward the goal of living out godly goodness? (Galatians 6:9; 5:22-25; Romans 8:29)
The key question of our study is “Who should I be?” I believe the answer should always come down to this – I should be who God wants me to be. To know who that is means applying Romans 12:2 to our lives. For to know His will we must “let God transform our mind by changing the way we think.” Paul says, when God does this, we will learn to know God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will. In other words, we need to think and thus act/live like God, who gave us Christ – who Himself is described in Acts 10:38-39, as “[the one who] went around doing good”but then was “put to death – on a tree”. Surely the act of His love was costly, the most costly of all – surely a cost worthy of our praise and imitation.
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,
Acts 10:38-39
Verses for Meditation
Exodus 33:18–19
Psalm 25:8–9 Psalm 100:5
Nahum 1:7
Romans 8:28
Galatians 6:9–10
James 1:17
Questions for Reflection
1. Which everyday aspect of the goodness of God do you recognize and savor the most? What everyday goodness might you thank him for that you have perhaps overlooked? List several.
2. Describe a time in your life when you were rejected for doing good. What was the result? What did you learn about being a follower of Christ?
3. In what area of your life are you most prone to grow weary of doing good? What relationship or circumstance would benefit most from a renewed determination to be generous with your time, gifts, or possessions?
4. How should a desire to grow in goodness impact our relationship with God positively? How should it impact our relationships with others positively? Give a specific example of each.
Pray
Write a prayer to God thanking him for revealing his goodness to you in your everyday life. Ask him to help you trust his goodness in your current circumstances that are not good. Thank him that the good news of Christ means you are set apart to do good works by the power of the Spirit, which he ordained for you to do. Ask him to shine his goodness through you.
God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble. 2 For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, 3 when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah) 4 The river’s channels bring joy to the city of God, the special, holy dwelling place of the Most High. 5 God lives within it, it cannot be moved. God rescues it at the break of dawn.6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown. God gives a shout, the earth dissolves. 7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Selah) 8 Come, Witness the exploits of the Lord, who brings devastation to the earth. 9 He brings an end to wars throughout the earth. He shatters the bow and breaks the spear; he burnsthe shields with fire. 10 He says,“Stop your striving and recognize that I am God. I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!” 11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our stronghold! (Selah)
Psalm 46
How appropriately timed is this passage for the current events and conditions of our nation? An unprecedented time of great proportions – with the ongoing pandemic and its ensuing rivalries and the unprecedented political unrest – both amid the growing social unrest of riots and killings. When I read today’s passage I couldn’t help but think of Mordecai’s words, “For such a time as this”, in the book of Esther.
Embattled in a seemingly, unending pandemic that continues to claim lives and somehow disrupt unity – and the political and social unrest that disrupts peace it seems fitting to be reminded to “Stop striving”. I find it good and comforting to be reminded – “For such a time as this”, to recognize that HE IS GOD! He declared, “I WILL BE EXALTED over the nations! I WILL BE EXALTED over the earth!” If I believe this declaration, and I do – should I not also live in peace KNOWING that He truly is my helper in these unprecedented times of trouble? Should I not rest in the TRUTH that The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on my side and the God of Jacob is my stronghold? Should I not rise up with the Psalmist and say – “For this reason I do not fear because my God WILL BE EXALTED?” He wins, and He alone will bring peace in His perfect timing over this pandemic and racism and brutality and political unrest! For He is God!
“For such a time as this” – in the midst of the turmoil of our day let us remember to take comfort and strength and find courage and joy in knowing that He is on our side! He is our stronghold!
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. It was tempting for the nation of Israel to align with foreign powers, and God reminds them that ultimately He is exalted! God wins, and He will bring peace. During Isaiah’s time, Judah looked for help from the Egyptians, even though God warned against it. Judah did not need Egyptian might; they needed reliance on the Lord: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).
When we are still and surrendered to God, we find peace even when the earth gives way, the mountains fall (verse 2), or the nations go into an uproar and kingdoms fall (verse 6). When life gets overwhelming and busyness takes precedence, remember Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Run to Him, lay down your weapons and fall into His arms. Acknowledge that He is God and that He is exalted in the earth. Be still and know that He is God.
For You, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth: You are elevated above all gods.
Psalm 97:9
This verse by itself is a wonderful reminder that God, our God, is not just the Most High God over all the earth but that He is over all other gods. However, when we read it in the fuller context of what the Psalmist wrote we find descriptions in verses 1 through 7 – word pictures of His greatness and power not only over His creation but carved images and those who worship them. We see Him reigning, the earth having cause to rejoice. We get a glimpse of His throne made of righteousness and justice and when we look closely we will see His saving power as He is victorious over His enemies and His glory is revealed!
The light of His glory brings shame to those who create and/or worship other gods; and it reveals not only His power but the lack of power in all other gods, who themselves are subjected to worship Him, as the Most High God. It is this picture that leads us to understand the depth of the Psalmist’s words that acknowledge the LORD as the Most High, and assigning to Him preeminence over the earth and all other gods.
It is also this verse that sheds light on the words that follow and gives us cause to heed them –
You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of His faithful followers; He delivers them from the power of the wicked. The godly bask in the light; the morally upright experience joy. You godly ones, rejoice in the Lord. Give thanks to His holy name.
Psalm 97:10-12
Because God, our God, is the Most High God we are called to a higher standard. A standard that not only recognizes evil and avoids it but one that sees it as an offense to God and hates it. Our realization that He is the Most High God should equally spur us on to live faithfully for Him. We cannot just avoid and hate evil but we must choose righteousness – living and loving like Jesus. He faithfully loved God above everything else, He loved us more than self – even to the point of death, He served God and others, and did good so that others would see and glorify His Father in heaven. When we live and love like this we will know freedom from the power of sin, we will know protection from our enemies, and we will experience the joy that comes from walking in His light and we will rejoice – giving thanks to His holy name.
Question of the Day: Why do you think Jesus chose to wash the feet of His disciples?
Washing the Disciples’ Feet – Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that his time[a] had come to depart[b] from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end.[c]2 The evening meal[d] was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart[e] of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray[f] Jesus.[g]3 Because Jesus[h] knew that the Father had handed all things over to him,[i] and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 he got up from the meal, removed[j] his outer clothes,[k] took a towel and tied it around himself.[l]5 He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.[m]
Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter[n] said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash[o] my feet?” 7 Jesus replied,[p] “You do not understand[q] what I am doing now, but you will understand[r] after these things.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!”[s] Jesus replied,[t] “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”[u]9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, wash[v] not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus replied,[w] “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet,[x] but is completely[y] clean.[z] And you disciples[aa] are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 (For Jesus[ab] knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, “Not every one of you is[ac] clean.”)[ad]
So when Jesus[ae] had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table[af] again and said to them, “Do you understand[ag] what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly,[ah] for that is what I am.[ai]14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example[aj]—you should do just as I have done for you.16 I tell you the solemn truth,[ak] the slave[al] is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger[am] greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand[an] these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Question of the Day: Which is greater: the gift of grace or penalty of sin?
So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people[a] because[b] all sinned— 13 for before the law was given,[c] sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin[d] when there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam (who is a type[e] of the coming one) transgressed.[f]15 But the gracious gift is not like the transgression.[g] For if the many died through the transgression of the one man,[h] how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply to the many!16 And the gift is not like the one who sinned.[i] For judgment, resulting from the one transgression,[j] led to condemnation, but[k] the gracious gift from the many failures[l] led to justification. 17 For if, by the transgression of the one man,[m] death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently,[n] just as condemnation[o] for all people[p] came[q] through one transgression,[r] so too through the one righteous act[s] came righteousness leading to life[t] for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man[u] many[v] were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of one man[w] many[x] will be constituted righteous. 20 Now the law came in[y] so that the transgression[z] may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, 21 so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Question of the Day: Each verse includes the phrase, “For His loyal love endures”. What else do you notice is included in each verse? Why do you think the Psalmist repeatedly combined both things? Share your answer or thoughts below in the reply box.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loyal love endures.[b] 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for His loyal love endures. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His loyal love endures, 4 to the one who performs magnificent, amazing deeds all by Himself, for His loyal love endures, 5 to the one who used wisdom to make the heavens, for His loyal love endures, 6 to the one who spread out the earth over the water, for His loyal love endures, 7 to the one who made the great lights, for His loyal love endures, 8 the sun to rule by day, for His loyal love endures, 9 the moon and stars to rule by night, for His loyal love endures, 10 to the one who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for His loyal love endures, 11 and led Israel out from their midst, for His loyal love endures, 12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for His loyal love endures, 13 to the one who divided[c] the Red Sea[d] in two,[e] for His loyal love endures, 14 and led Israel through its midst, for His loyal love endures, 15 and tossed[f] Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, for His loyal love endures, 16 to the one who led his people through the wilderness, for His loyal love endures, 17 to the one who struck down great kings, for His loyal love endures, 18 and killed powerful kings, for His loyal love endures, 19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for His loyal love endures, 20 Og, king of Bashan, for His loyal love endures, 21 and gave their land as an inheritance, for His loyal love endures, 22 as an inheritance to Israel his servant, for His loyal love endures, 23 to the one who remembered us when we were down,[g] for His loyal love endures, 24 and snatched us away from our enemies, for His loyal love endures,, 25 to the one who gives food to all living things,[h] for his loyal love endures. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His loyal love endures!
Me From the Inside Out 